Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

This is available on the UN staff committee web site and i think speaks to what i said in my previous blog. It is time for the UN Secretary General to step in and stop the process.   Summary of Staff Council survey results  In order to quickly gather feedback from staff about the management of the Structural Change process so far, the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS/UN Women Staff Council conducted a brief survey following the Town Hall meeting that took place on 16 June 2014.  The survey was launched on the afternoon of 17 June and closed at midnight on 19 June 2014.  Even with a tight turnaround time, the response rate was significant, and demonstrates how strongly staff feel about the current work climate at UNDP. Who completed the survey?     656 of 980 HQ staff completed the survey  (2/3 of all at HQ/NY)    ·          Slightly more women than men:    56% respondents w...

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”   John F Kennedy The quote above inspired a generation to engage in public service as politicians, civil servants or community workers. I was inspired to get involved in politics as a youngster by the two Kennedy brothers and the belief that you should give something back to society – that politics was a noble professional. With the latest scandal in the UK over the child sex abuse just starting to come out I wonder if we can ever trust our politicians again. We expect - no demand that the state protects children in its care - it clearly has failed those children and though this deals with probably the period of the 1960s to the late 1980s we need to know that there are proper procedures in place now. This is of course on the back of the expenses scandal and the financial crisis which we expected our politicians to have protected us from happening.  We ar...

It has been a busy week and so I mostly focused my analysis in an earlier blog on areas I had been actively working on over the last year.  Science and research So I only got to cross reference a few things when I had a call from SciDev today and they wanted to know what I thought about how science and research was reflected in the text in the new draft of the SDG OWG. I have to say I wasn’t following it and so I read through and only find in the new draft   research   appearing only three times: 2.a       increase investment in rural infrastructure, agricultural research, technology development, and capable institutions, particularly in countries that are net food importers 3.b    support research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines, and support developing countries’ use of T...

Taking Bonn abroad: Mayor Nimptsch nominates Bonn Ambassadors Germany-wide as well as abroad, the city of Bonn stands for internationality and economic potential. In both of these areas, local personalities have now been found whose reputation and international networks are excellent and whose opinion easily makes its weight felt. Mayor Nimptsch has nominated 24 of these personalities as Bonn Ambassadors. Seventeen have been awarded this title, receiving their official certificates of appointment from Mayor Nimptsch in Bonn’s Old Town Hall . When communicating with their counterparts or traveling abroad, these personalities will learn about new ideas and projects first-hand. Owing to their excellent contacts, they can bring up the City of Bonn during the initial planning phase of relocation processes or new settlements, or for future cooperation and conferences. And they are willing to do so. Felix Dodds said: "I am honored to be invited to be one of the great Cit...

The co-chairs have released their draft for the final SDG OWG . The 15 has reopened to 17 but we have seen some reframing of the goals. They stand now as: List of Proposed Sustainable Development Goals to be attained by 2030 1.      End poverty everywhere 2.      End hunger, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 3.      Attain healthy lives for all 4.      Provide quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all 5.      Attain gender equality, empower women and girls everywhere 6.      Ensure availability and sustainable use of water and sanitation for all 7.      Ensure sustainable energy for all 8.      Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 9.      Promote sustainable infrast...